Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt of Moscow, president of the Conference of European Rabbis, led a delegation of senior rabbis and community leaders to meet with new European Parliament President David Sassoli in Brussels yesterday.
Chief Rabbi Goldschmidt introduced the delegation affirming that Europe’s Jewish communities are fully integrated as European citizens. ‘Our institutions are hundreds of years old’, said Goldschmidt. ‘Our food preparation and circumcision practices are governed by our communities in accordance with EU regulation. These practices are for the sole benefit of our own communities and we are proud of our high standards.’
‘It is vital’, continued Goldschmidt, ‘to recognise that not every immigration into Europe is the same. We stand ready to work together with the EU to assist later immigrations to create recognised institutions to govern their practices.’
Welcoming the sentiments expressed, President Sassoli restated his commitment to provide the protections of the EU against the threats of antisemitism and extremism.
CER Board of Patrons Boris Mints added his greetings and presented the president with a silver sculpture of a shofar, asking that the Jewish voice be heard in Europe loud, clear and proud.